N00620:39
Angelographia, or A discourse concerning the nature and power of the holy angels, and…
Angelographia, or A discourse concerning the nature and power of the holy angels, and the great benefit which the true fearers of God receive by their ministry: delivered in several sermons: : to which is added, a sermon concerning the sin and misery of the fallen angels: also, a disquisition concerning angelical-apparitions. / By Increase Mather, president of Harvard College, in Cambridge, and preacher of the Gospel at Boston, in New-England. ; [Two lines from Hebrews]Angelographia, or A discourse concerning the nature and power of the holy angels, and the great benefit which the true fearers of God receive by their ministry: delivered in several sermons: : to which is added, a sermon concerning the sin and misery of the fallen angels: also, a disquisition concerning angelical-apparitions. / By Increase Mather, praesident of Harvard Colledge, in Cambridge, and preacher of the Gospel at Boston, in New-England. ; [Two lines from Hebrews]
printed by B. Green & J. Allen for Samuel Phillips, 1696
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
So then they are Real Rational Creatures; and thence it is, that they a•e Subjects capable of Rewards and Punishments: the Angelical Nature is so. A• for the Elect Angels, their Obedience is rewarded with Everlasting Happiness, and the Sin of Reprobate Angels is rewarded with Everlasting Punishment. 2 Pet. 2.4. God spared not the Angels tha• Sinned: they are cast down into Hell, reserved in E•verlasting Chains of Darkness, for the Judgment o• ⟨p. 7⟩the Great Day. These things then make it clear unto us who believe the Scriptures, that there are such real Beings as Angels. And indeed, reason doth dictate no less unto men; for it is evident, that there are Evil Angels: Men cannot but perceive that. And it was manifest from the Oracles of the Gentiles of old; the Evil Angels did speak in them. This also is sadly evident from Bodily Possessions, of which every Age gives instances to the World. Now then, if there are Evil Angels, reason saith, they were once good: they are not originally Evil. The Creator, who is Perfect, Infinite, Goodness, did not make them Evil: they must needs come Holy out of His Hands. And if the Evil Angels were once good, we may rationally conclude, that there are some who are as originally they were Holy Spirits. Hence the Gentiles, who had not the Light of Scripture to inform them; nevertheless believed, that there were good, as well as evil Spirits. They have said of God, that He is [PATER ANDRONTE THEONTE] the Father of Spirits, as well as the Father of Men.
2. These Angels are Second Beings, Created Beings; they receive whatever they are, their very Being, and all from another. Some of the Heathen Philosophers, supposed the Angels to be Co-eternal with the Great God. But it is not so, nor is that possible to be true: There can be but one First, but one Eternal Being. It is the Prerogative of the Great God, and of him alone,